No ‘red team’ or ‘blue team’

MARENGO — Voters shouldn’t be “red team” or “blue team,” Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand told a full room at Marengo Public Library Wednesday. “This is about Iowa.”

Sand, one of a handful of candidates for Iowa governor, said Wednesday that our political system is broken. Rather than submitting to the dictates of a political party, people should research issues and stand by their own beliefs, Sand said.

Sand faced a crowd of nearly 70 people Wednesday, mostly Democrats but with a handful of Independents and a few Republicans scattered among them.

Sand asked for applause for each group as he called for an end to two-party mentality and incivility.

“We’re in mixed company,” said Sand. He encouraged people to remember the words of Walt Whitman, “Be curious, not judgmental.”

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Born in Winneshiek County, Sand grew up in Decorah. His father took him hunting and fishing, and his family went to church on Sundays.

Those things don’t belong to any political party, said Sand.

Sand first registered as an Independent, he said, because doesn’t believe in political parties. He doesn’t fall in line for anyone. He researches issues and stands by his own beliefs, he said.

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“I want to know that I’m making the right decision,” Sand said.

Sand registered as a Democrat only because he had to choose between Democrat and Republican to vote in a primary, something he believes is wrong. Politics shouldn’t be so partisan, he said.

Sand would prefer that everyone vote in a single primary. Residents would vote for one person for each office, and the top four would move to the general election. That way people wouldn’t be voting for the lesser of two evils. They could vote for people they actually want to see in office.

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In the current political system, Sand had to make a party selection in order to vote in a primary.

“My faith makes me want to look out for the little guy,” said Sand. He believes the Democrat Party does that.

Sand graduated from Decorah High School in 2001 and from Brown University in 2005. He earned his Juris Doctor in 2010 from the University of Iowa College of Law.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller appointed Sand assistant attorney general in 2010. During his seven years in the office, Sand prosecuted local and state officials as well as violent criminals, he said. It started to changed the way he looked at the world.

“I realized I need to do something proactive,” Sand said.

Sand had helped get a skate park built while still in high school in Decorah. He worked with skateboarders and with property owners to see the project completed.

When people who disagree work together, that’s a good thing, said Sand.

Before running for State Auditor, Sand did his homework. “I sat down, and I read Chapter 11 of Iowa Code,” he said. That’s where the job of the state auditor is spelled out.

“This office has a tremendous capacity to promote government efficiency,” said Sand.

Sand was elected State Auditor in 2018. His top assistants were from Democrat, Republican and Independent political parties.

As state auditor, Sand developed the Public Innovations and Efficiencies program, which awards governmental bodies for fiscal efficiency. This is a good way to save money, said Sand.

The program has been copied in two other states.

As State Auditor, Sand took a stand against the State of Iowa using more than $4 million in taxpayers’ money to settle sexual harassment lawsuits brought against the former director of the Iowa Finance Authority. The perpetrators of such crimes, not the taxpayers, should be responsible for their own settlements, said Sand.

Whether he’s auditor or governor, “I will not go along just to make my life less awkward,” Sand said. “I’m going to stand up for you.”

Sand said his office uncovered a record amount of unspent money during his time as State Auditor. But the State Legislature has since passed a bill that will make finding waste more difficult, he said.

The State Auditor’s office is no longer allowed to see many documents it might need to find government waste. The office wasn’t allowed to see where $100,000 in school vouchers were spent, he said.

If police weren’t allowed on county roads, that’s where people would go, Sand said. Similarly, under the new legislation, departments have found a way to hide misspent money.

Meanwhile, the state of Iowa is 49th in the nation in economic growth, said Sand.

Sand noted that Jesus was a nice guy, but he reminded the crowd of a time when Jesus wasn’t. “Jesus got really mad when he saw money changers at the temple,” said Sand. Jesus overturned their tables.

“I would like to flip some tables in Des Moines,” Sand said.

Too many politicians care about power rather than about serving the people. They spread rumors and keep people angry, said Sand.

“Solving problems requires working together,” said Sand. “We need to talk to people that we’ve been made to believe we disagree with.”

Sand asked how a many people had an uncomfortable Thanksgiving the last few years. We have to change that, he said.

“Make Thanksgiving fun again,” said Sand. “Make Thanksgiving grateful again.”